SECTION G: PUBLICATION OF ACCREDITATION STATUS
G.2 Accreditation Status Definitions
The MACTE Board may render one of 10 separate decisions:
Full Accreditation
Full Accreditation status, for initial or renewal of accreditation, is awarded upon determination that the program demonstrates substantial compliance with the MACTE Quality Principles and Criteria. This status is published on the MACTE website.
The Board may find due cause to defer action on Full Accreditation status, but such deferral may not exceed one year.
Accreditation with Stipulations
Accreditation with Stipulations status signifies that the MACTE Board has identified critical deficiencies that must be addressed by an accredited program prior to the receiving Full Accreditation status. Programs are required to submit written evidence of the action taken to bring the certification course(s) into compliance by correcting those deficiencies within a timeframe that does not exceed the following:
▪ twelve months if the certification course is less than one year in length;
▪ eighteen months if the certification course is at least one year, but less than two years in length; or
▪ two years if the certification course is at least two years in length.
If, by the judgment of the Board, sufficient progress is not being made toward compliance, or significant questions are raised by any required progress report, a focused on-site verification visit might be scheduled, at the program’s expense, prior to taking further action regarding the accreditation status.
A change to Accreditation with Stipulations status may be recommended upon receipt of a negative OSVT report. If the evidence is in dispute, the Board will hold a hearing; however, the Board may grant this status whether or not the evidence is in dispute.
The Board may grant Full Accreditation status upon receipt of written evidence that demonstrates the critical deficiencies have been corrected within the timeline stipulated. If the critical deficiencies are not corrected within the stipulated timeline, continuing accreditation is revoked unless the period for achieving compliance is extended for good cause.
Upon receipt of the notice of Accreditation with Stipulations, the program is required to notify all enrolled adult learners and those seeking admission concerning its Accreditation with Stipulations status and to post it on its website. This information is also published on the MACTE website.
Denial of Accreditation
Denial of Accreditation is an adverse action restricted to programs applying for Initial Accreditation. This action is taken when the application, Self-Study, and/or the OSVT report indicate that the program does not
MACTE 420 Park Street Charlottesville, Virginia 434.202.7793 61 demonstrate substantial compliance with MACTE Quality Principles and Criteria and provides little or no evidence that these deficiencies can be readily corrected.
Notification of Denial of Accreditation is sent to the administrative officials of the program. They are provided with a written statement of each characteristic, which is judged to be in noncompliance with a MACTE Quality Principle and Criteria and are informed of appropriate appeal procedures. The program may appeal the Board decision, in writing, through the established mechanism, or it may reapply for Initial Accreditation at a later date. See Section F for information on reconsideration/appeal of an accreditation decision.
The program is required to agree to submit any dispute involving Denial of Accreditation to initial arbitration prior to taking any other legal action.
The program is required to notify all enrolled adult learners and those seeking admission that accreditation has been denied. This information is also posted on the MACTE website.
If a program does not gain accreditation in its first attempt but presents evidence of capacity and willingness to correct deficiencies, it may be considered a second time. Procedures for the second evaluation are identical to those of the first. If the program does not gain accreditation during its second attempt, it may not apply again until three years following the second failure to achieve accredited status.
Revocation of Accreditation
Revocation of Accreditation can occur by action of the MACTE Board or as the result of a program becoming inoperative. The program is required to agree to submit any dispute involving Revocation of Accreditation to initial arbitration prior to any legal action.
If the Board has acquired documented evidence that a program holding Full Accreditation status no longer substantially complies with the Quality Principles and Criteria, the Board may first change the status to Accreditation Probation or schedule an on-site verification visit, at the expense of the program, by one or more verifiers assigned by MACTE. The program and the MACTE office may negotiate the number of verifiers and the program has the right to request more than one verifier.
Revocation of Accreditation is the final action taken when the MACTE Board has determined that all other possibilities have been exhausted and no other alternative is feasible. Notification of Revocation of Accreditation is sent to the administrative officials of the program. They are provided with a written statement of each characteristic judged to be in noncompliance with the Quality Principles or Criterion and are informed of appeal procedures.
The program may appeal the Board’s decision in writing, or it may apply for initial accreditation at a later date. However, if the program has an outstanding balance at the time accreditation is revoked, the balance plus interest (computed at the IRS rate) must be paid in full before the institution is eligible to reapply.
The program is required to notify all enrolled adult learners and those seeking admission that accreditation has been revoked. This information must also be posted on its website. MACTE will publish the revocation status on the MACTE website. Adult learners who are currently enrolled and registered with MACTE are
MACTE 420 Park Street Charlottesville, Virginia 434.202.7793 62 permitted to complete their certification course on its established schedule and will be considered graduates of an accredited institution. Please see Section I on Teach-Out Agreements.
Accredited programs that are inoperative are required to submit annual reports to the MACTE office and to pay all accreditation-related fees and charges. Accredited status is revoked (or may be withdrawn) if the institution is in good standing after a program is inoperative for two consecutive certification course cycles.
Voluntary Withdrawal from Full Accreditation
A program in good standing with MACTE may submit a written request at any time for withdrawal from Full Accreditation status. The program is advised that once the withdrawal has been accepted the program will be removed from the list of accredited institutions and that any request for reactivation of accreditation will be treated as an initial application.
When a program submits a withdrawal request, the program is required to notify all enrolled adult learners and those seeking admission that accreditation has been withdrawn. Adult learners currently enrolled and registered with MACTE are permitted to complete their certification course on its established schedule and will be considered graduates of an accredited institution.
Programs with adult learners in their academic or practicum phase may not withdraw until at least 70% of all adult learners have either completed the program and are eligible for a credential or have withdrawn or transferred to another program. Documented evidence of each adult learner’s withdrawal or transfer must be available. This requirement applies to programs intending to withdraw entire certification course levels and/or additional locations. [rev. 12/14]
A program that is not in good standing with MACTE will have its accreditation revoked. Please see Section I on Teach-Out Agreements.
Administrative Probationary Accreditation [rev. 03/14]
Administrative Probationary Accreditation status is given for a maximum of 90 days when a program is not in compliance with one or more of the following administrative requirements for maintenance of accreditation:
▪ paying accreditation-related fees and charges within 60 calendar days of the invoice date;
▪ submitting reports or other required information;
▪ registering adult learners and paying student fees by the established due date;
▪ agreeing to a reasonable on-site verification visit date at or near the time established by the MACTE office;
▪ advertising its certification courses ethically and accurately with regard to MACTE accreditation status.
Administrative Probationary Accreditation is an accreditation category and is not subject to appeal. Although the institution is recognized and listed as accredited during the period of administrative probation, failure to completely remedy the situation by the date specified in the probationary letter may result in Revocation of Accreditation.
Complete resolution of the situation cited in the administrative probationary letter will satisfy the
MACTE 420 Park Street Charlottesville, Virginia 434.202.7793 63 administrative requirements and result in restoration of accredited status.
Accreditation Probation
Accreditation Probation status is given to a program that fails to submit renewal documentation and fees within the appropriate timeframe provided to the program by MACTE. Below details the timeline for Accreditation Probation:
▪ If the program has not submitted renewal documentation and fees by the six-month deadline, MACTE will send a letter to the program director stating they have 15 business days to submit the required documentation to avoid being charged a late submission fee.
▪ If the program does not submit the renewal documentation within the 15 business days, MACTE will charge the program a $500.00 late submission fee and advise the program that they have 90 calendar days to submit the Self-Study documentation, late submission fee, and application fee.
▪ If the program does not submit all required documentation and fees within the 90 calendar day timeframe, the MACTE Board of Directors reserves the right to place the program on Accreditation Probation.
▪ If the program is placed on Accreditation Probation, the program director will be required to notify all adult learners and faculty that the program has been placed on Accreditation Probation within 15 business days.
▪ The program director must send MACTE the contact information for all current adult learners and faculty and verification each has been notified of the Accreditation Probation status.
▪ MACTE will notify the USDE that the program has been placed on Accreditation Probation.
▪ MACTE will update their website to reflect the change in status for the program.
▪ The program will transition back to full accreditation without probation once the MACTE Board has approved the renewal of accreditation.
▪ The amount of time the program extended beyond their renewal date due to the late submission of documentation will be taken off their term of renewal of accreditation.
If the program fails to submit renewal documentation prior to their official renewal date their accreditation will lapse, and the program will need to apply for Initial Accreditation.
Reporting Status
Reporting Status is given when a program falls below the reporting threshold requirements for two consecutive years. See Section I for information regarding threshold requirements.
Deferment of Action Due to Catastrophic Circumstances
Deferment of Action may be exercised for up to one year when an institution requests deferment due to catastrophic circumstances and provides appropriate documentation.
Good Cause Extension
MACTE may extend a programs renewal of accreditation up to 24 months for “good cause” if it specifically determines that there is good cause to do so. A good cause letter must be sent to the MACTE office no later than six months prior to the renewal date to be considered for an extension. An extension does not mean extra years of accreditation, the good cause year(s) are subtracted from the original date of renewal.
MACTE 420 Park Street Charlottesville, Virginia 434.202.7793 64